 Lumma Design takes on the Porsche Panamera with the CLR 700GT
 04.10.2009 18:40  30 views  0 comments
Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Porsche 
Lumma Design porsche Panamera CLR 700GT - Click above for image gallery
Codified as the CLR 700GT, Lumma's Panamera packs a widebody kit with a new front end, engorged wheel arches housing 22-inch rims and upgraded brakes riding on a suspension dropped by 1.38 inches, and joined by sills that look like they could hold a small reference library. Around back there's a big ol' carbon fiber rear wing and a revised rear bumper with aerodynamic diffuser and quad tailpipes. Underneath the slatted carbon fiber hood Lumma is said to have cranked out an eponymous 700 metric horsepower. Together with the trio of renderings in the gallery below, that's all the details available for the time being. Whether Lumma's latest is an improvement on the original or comes closer to slapping Maybelline on a hog is, of course, entirely a matter of opinion, and we invite you to express yours in our comments section below.
[Source: Lumma Design via WCF]Lumma Design takes on the Porsche Panamera with the CLR 700GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| REPORT: Next-gen Nissan GT-R in the works for 2013
04.10.2009 17:07 28 views 0 comments
Filed under: Performance, Nissan
Hot on the heels of reports, brought to you by British car site PistonHeads upon their visit to the Nissan's Ring-side test facility, of updates planned for the current R35-generation Nissan GT-R comes another report detailing the Japanese automaker's plans for the next-generation R36 model.
With competitors lining up to challenge the current GT-R's performance benchmark, Nissan's senior veep for global product planning, Andy Palmer, confirmed that plans are underway to succeed Godzilla with a next-generation model. The R36 will, according to the report, carry over the current model's twin-turbo V6, but with enough modifications to keep it ahead of the pack. The new GT-R is expected to hit the road by 2013 at the latest. Beyond that, Palmer didn't disclose many details, except to say that Nissan is committed to the GT-R program and won't be letting the Porsche 911 GT2 alone without a fight.
[Source: PistonHeads]REPORT: Next-gen Nissan GT-R in the works for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| Honda chief: "Hyundai is awesome."
04.10.2009 15:01 22 views 0 comments
Filed under: Etc., Honda, Hyundai, Nissan 
Japan's automakers know a threat when they see one, and based on their words, it sure isn't in Michigan. Motown is fleeting image in the Japanese carmakers' rearview mirrors, which they're now nervously checking for a budding South Korean juggernaut. Honda CEO Takanobu Ito minced no words when he told the Associated Press, "Hyundai is awesome. They are undoubtedly a threat because their products are cheap, and the quality is improving." The numbers seem to bear that out, as Hyundai and its corporate sibling, Kia, continue to show substantial sales chart improvements in key markets like the Europe and the US, where it continues to show strong growth while many other automakers look at double-digit shortfalls year-over-year. Nissan's Shiro Nakamura echoes Honda's Ito when it comes to identifying Japan's new boogeyman, "Hyundai is the biggest threat for the Japanese automakers. They have the technology, but they seem to have cheaper labour."
Hyundai, once basically a joke (we all remember such legendary products as the Excel, pictured above), is catching the Japanese by beating them at their own game -- offering a mix of value and quality that's hard for shoppers to ignore. Japan knows it needs to defend itself, too. After all, once upon a time, they were what Hyundai is now. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't too long ago that one could chuckle at Honda's initial foray into the States. We know how that turned out. Now you have to wonder how long it'll be until we see quotes from Hyundai's leadership talking about the Chinese the way Nissan and Japan talk about Hyundai.
[Source: The Canadian Press via TTAC)
Honda chief: "Hyundai is awesome." originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee launch threatened by parts dispute?
04.10.2009 12:28 22 views 0 comments
Filed under: Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz 
Chrysler and Daimler have been divorced for nearly three years, but the two automakers are still very much entwined when it comes to product. The Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger use a platform and several components sourced from Daimler. Chrysler's short-term product plans include more Daimler DNA in the the Mercedes-Benz M-Class architecture that forms the basis for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango underpinnings.
Unfortunately for the Pentastar, Daimler doesn't seem to want to play parts pimp for its former underling, as it is shorting the company of vital components required to continue operations. In August, Chrysler filed suit against Daimler because the German automaker was withholding parts like torque converters and steering columns. That suit has reportedly been settled, but now Chrysler alleges that the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee launch is now in jeopardy. As such, Chrysler has filed a second suit to force Daimler to provide rear axles and other components in a timely fashion, stating that the company needs the parts to build new Grand Cherokee models for testing in advance of the vehicle's May launch.
Daimler spokesman Han Tjan reportedly told The Detroit News that his company feels the situation could be handled outside the courts, but Chrysler doesn't seem inclined to agree. It appears Chrysler is trying to hedge its bets by filing suit, as company spokesman Michael Palese told the News that the company needs the parts in the next 20 days and the company wants Daimler to finalize the contract to supply the parts. Palese added, "Chrysler has too much at stake to take a chance. These are important vehicle programs at a critical point in their launch cycle. We can't afford any delays."
This parts battle is part of a larger war (so to speak) between Daimler and Chrysler over diesel engines. Daimler wants $80 million from Chrysler to cover expenses the former incurred when Chrysler didn't purchase as many diesel engines as expected from Daimler to service the overseas market. Daimler wants the $80 million as a make-good for the lost volume. Chrysler says its recent bankruptcy shields it in this particular conflict, saying that the process resolved any lingering contract disputes, and that its new master, Fiat, isn't on the hook for the money. Ultimately, it boils down to this: Auburn Hills wants the courts to rule that all past contracts are still in effect -- ensuring a parts supply flow from Daimler for the affected new vehicle programs -- and that the Detroit automaker doesn't owe the Germans any money. If things don't go Chrysler's way, it looks as if life could get really ugly for Fiat's new ward.
[Source: Detroit News]2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee launch threatened by parts dispute? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| SPOILER ALERT: Getting down to the point at the Japanese Grand Prix
04.10.2009 10:30 9 views 0 comments
Filed under: Motorsports, Japan
Underdogs turned front-runners. Grands prix won by six different drivers. Four teams switching their lineups midseason. A multiple world champion (quite nearly) returning to the grid. A team principal and technical director shamed into retirement. A retiring motorsport figurehead sparking a heated race for his succession, and several new teams preparing to join the grid. More so than any other in recent memory, this season of Formula One racing has been packed with excitement. But now it all comes down to three things: points, points and - you guessed it - points. Because while the championship has been in contention since the start of the season some seven months ago in Melbourne, we're now down to the final rounds where the titles will be ultimately decided.
Crossing the East China Sea from Singapore to Japan, Jenson Button held a commanding lead in the drivers' standings, and with his teammate Rubens Barrichello in second place, Brawn GP looked poised to take the constructors' crown as well. All they'd need would be another few points and they'd have it all locked up, leaving their rivals fighting over the table scraps. Follow the jump to see if they got 'em.
Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Getting down to the point at the Japanese Grand Prix SPOILER ALERT: Getting down to the point at the Japanese Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| Nissan Skyline GT-Rs seized in California over possible illegal importation
03.10.2009 20:06 23 views 0 comments
Filed under: Performance, Etc., Government/Legal, Nissan 
The importation of the Nissan Skyline GT-R to the United States has been a Hollywood-sized epic spanning ten years. For a while, the only game in town was to go through Motorex for a crash-tested, USDOT and EPA-approved Godzilla. Unfortunately, the company owner let his fondness of Japanese hostess clubs take precedence over delivering cars. Since Motorex shut its doors in 2005, enthusiasts have been scouring each and every loophole in US Customs laws to keep the supplies flowing. In 2006 ,a company called Kaizo began taking orders. Their model, vastly different from Motorex's expensive methods, involved the importation of specialty-constructed Nissan Skyline GT-R bodies from Japan to be mated with customer-supplied powertrains upon delivery to the United States, thus creating a kit car (to put it simply).
Following the tradition that is the GT-R saga, Kaizo's actions have recently been called into question by pretty much every acronymed authority -- DOT, EPA, ICE, CARB, DOJ and FBI. Charges against Kaizo have yet to be filed, but along with a raid on company headquarters, various customers have been delivered letters suggesting exportation and some have even lost their rides. To date, five R34s and one R32 GT-R have been seized by kevlar-clad armed officers. Exasperated customers have banded together in an attempt to find some salvation in this mess, and it isn't only hardcore enthusiasts left out in the cold by the scandal either. Recently, rather high-profile operation utilized Kaizo resources to create a valuable franchise, and if the drama keeps up at this rate, perhaps the Nissan Skyline GT-R story could be their next project.
[Source: GTR USA Blog]
Nissan Skyline GT-Rs seized in California over possible illegal importation originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| REPORT: McLaren F1 considering acquisition of BMW F1 engine ops
03.10.2009 18:05 24 views 0 comments
Filed under: Motorsports, BMW, Mercedes-Benz 
McLaren's Formula One cars have been powered by Mercedes-Benz engines since 1995, but that could soon come to an end. The relationship between Daimler and McLaren has become increasingly strained over the past two years, following the Spygate scandal and the automaker's decision to have AMG build the SLS.
With BMW withdrawing from Formula One at the close of this season, the hot rumor in the paddock at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend is that McLaren chairman Ron Dennis is considering scooping up rival BMW F1's engine-building operations. Mercedes supplies engines to the this year's likely champions, the Brawn team, and a split with McLaren would allow MB to concentrate its efforts there.
McLaren's Middle Eastern investors reportedly support the move, which would allow the team to join Ferrari, Renault (if the French team remains in F1) and Toyota in building its own chassis and engine. Apparently, BMW's deal to sell the Sauber F1 team doesn't include the engine operation in Munich, leaving McLaren free to make its move.
[Source: F1-Live]REPORT: McLaren F1 considering acquisition of BMW F1 engine ops originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon caught uncovered
03.10.2009 16:04 26 views 0 comments
Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Dodge, Off-Road 
Dodge's entire line of Heavy Duty pickup trucks gets a major refresh for the 2010 model year, and that includes the off-road-ready Power Wagon. The boys at Petersen's 4Wheel Off-Road Magazine managed to get their mitts on what must be one of the first such trucks off the line, and it'll be taking part in the mag's 4x4 of the Year competition.
In addition to the restyled sheetmetal, the '10 Power Wagon gets a new graphics package that makes the new model impossible to miss. Giant vinyl lettering in contrasting colors takes up residence on the hood, quarter panels and tailgate, and a matching set of stripes showcases the truck's stylized hood and bare flanks.
Buried deep inside the Ram's massive hood and behind that gaping chrome grille sits a Hemi V8 that sends its ponies through locking front and rear differentials. 4.56 rear axle gearing ensures that there's plenty of twisting power to spin the large 33-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires, and an electric sway bar disconnect allows for maximum articulation over the really rough stuff. It's not exactly subtle, but then again it probably fits its target demographic like a glove.
See more images of the 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon at Petersen's 4Wheel Off-Road Magazine.
[Source: Petersen's 4Wheel Off-Road via PickupTrucks.com]
2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon caught uncovered originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| (Black and) Blue Oval: Ford of Canada labor costs reportedly world's highest
03.10.2009 14:02 22 views 0 comments
Filed under: Ford, UAW/Unions 
it wasn't long ago that U.S. automakers were producing a high percentage of their new products in Canada because labor costs were lower up north than are here in the States. The cost paradigm changed considerably after GM and Chrysler went into Chapter 11 reorganization, as the ailing automakers secured better labor deals with both U.S. and Canadian unions, making the UAW and CAW more competitive versus Japanese automakers.
The United Auto Workers renegotiated with Ford, giving Dearborn terms similar to those it gave GM and Chrysler. Ford reportedly told The Globe and Mail that it now pays about $52 per hour for U.S. labor after benefits. Unfortunately for Ford, the CAW hasn't extended the same helping hand labor-wise, and the Blue Oval isn't very happy. Ford says it is paying $16 more per hour for its Canadian workforce than it is for U.S. workers. In fact, Ford says its labor situation in Canada is so bad that the Blue Oval alleges its labor costs there are now higher than in any other region on earth.
The Canadian Auto Workers union appears willing to negotiate, but The Globe and Mail reports that it wants job security in return. Ford's St. Thomas plant, which currently builds the Panther-platformed Lincoln Town Car, Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis, is scheduled for closure at some point in the next two years, and the CAW would like Ford to instead guarantee a new product for the facility. The CAW says it wants to continue to account for 13% of Ford's North American production, but closing the plant and laying off its 1,600 workers would shrink that number to 9%. So far, neither party seems to be budging, but we have a feeling Ford won't be paying the highest labor rates anywhere for very much longer.
[Source: The Globe and Mail](Black and) Blue Oval: Ford of Canada labor costs reportedly world's highest originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| Steeda previews 2010 Q Series Mustang ahead of SEMA unveiling
03.10.2009 12:07 23 views 0 comments
Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford
Steeda has long been synonymous with high-performance Mustangs, customizing and racing the pony cars for the past twenty years. In July the Florida-based tuner showed off its first version of the 2010 Mustang, the Sport Edition, which featured fairly simple upgrades, including new wheels and tires, minor suspension upgrades, graphics, and the like. We assumed more was to come, especially in terms of horsepower, and it looks like we won't have to wait long to see what Steeda has for us next.
The company announced this week that it'll unveil the 2010 Q Series Mustang at SEMA next month, although specific details are far and few between. Company founder Dario Orlando promises the company's new take on Ford's pony car will be devoid of compromises or shortcuts, and we're sure the result will be nothing less than impressive if Steeda's previous Mustangs are anything to go by. We expect the 4.6L V8 will likely benefit from a twin-screw supercharger, adding triple-digit horsepower increases, and the suspension should receive extensive upgrades developed from Steeda's racing program. Stay tuned for more details as Steeda releases them, and be sure to look for our coverage of the official unveiling in just a few short weeks at SEMA.
[Source: Steeda]
Continue reading Steeda previews 2010 Q Series Mustang ahead of SEMA unveiling Steeda previews 2010 Q Series Mustang ahead of SEMA unveiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| For Sale: The most Grand Wagoneer ever made
03.10.2009 10:00 22 views 0 comments
Filed under: Classics, SUV, Jeep, Specialty 
There will always be something special about the Jeep Grand Wagoneer that keeps the original Sport Utility Vehicle entrenched firmly on our list of truly iconic American automobiles. Somehow, despite the old-school design and fake wood paneling, the GW manages to look both classy and capable at once.
Though we'll take our Grand Wagoneer exactly as God and American Motors intended, we think this stretched limo-spec Woodie is rather tastefully done as well. If nothing else, it's far cooler that any stretched-to-the-hilt Hummer H2 we've ever laid eyes on. According to the seller (the original ad can be found here), this model is an '87 and features the trusty 360 cubic inch V8 engine, automatic transmission and the requisite four-wheel drive.
It looks to be in good shape inside and out, as it should with just over 43,000 miles showing on the clock. As an added bonus, this Grand Wagoneer sports an attractive black exterior, a fake forest's worth of wood paneling and a very nice tan interior. Take it home for $24,900. Just be sure to replace those awful wheels with something more appropriate... like stock steelies with chrome trim rings.
[Source: Hemmings Auto Blog]
For Sale: The most Grand Wagoneer ever made originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development
02.10.2009 20:58 23 views 0 comments
Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Aston Martin
After seeing the production Aston Martin Rapide at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, we're pretty sure it's one of the most attractive sedans ever produced. And now that we've seen the sleek looking sedan in motion, we're 100 percent sure the Rapide is a winner.
Aston Martin has released a simply stunning video of the Rapide in various stages of development, from the skid pad to the Nurburgring, kicking off with a 50 second montage with just enough Rapide to keep us interested, then another 30 seconds in the garage. From there, the Rapide heads over to Germany for some hot-lapping, then the video crescendos at the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy for some powertrain development. Hit the jump to view the video for yourself, you'll be happy you took the three minutes out of your day.
Continue reading VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| Tokyo 2009 Preview: Suzuki Swift hybrid plug-in concept
02.10.2009 20:28 24 views 0 comments
The Suzuki Swift is a competent subcompact that the Japanese marque sells both in Japan and Europe. In the latter, the little hatchback is available with a solid 1.3-liter diesel dubbed DDIS. To make things even cleaner, Suzuki has announced that it will introduce a plug-in series hybrid version of the Swift at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, and the powertrain reminds us of nothing less than a smaller Chevrolet Volt.
The model, which is just a concept at this point, uses a 660 cc engine, probably sourced from a kei car. The engine charges the lithium-ion batteries, which are placed between the front seats - we suspect they extend into the middle of the rear seat as well. The batteries power a 54 kW motor that moves the front wheels.
We'll learn more when we get to Tokyo, but for now, check out our high-res gallery below.
[Source: Suzuki]Tokyo 2009 Preview: Suzuki Swift hybrid plug-in concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 10.2.09
02.10.2009 20:20 13 views 0 comments
The Miata's balance of accessible performance, newborn kitty frolic and uncomplicated operation still strikes us as great value, and proves evolution doesn't have to come at the expense of engagement.
Less than a year after the Genesis Coupe hit the streets, Hyundai is rolling out its first batch of improvements, beginning with a touchscreen navigation system packing plenty of potential.
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 10.2.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| Spy Shots: Mysterious Aspira F620 supercar surfaces
02.10.2009 20:01 24 views 0 comments
Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Europe  Global economic meltdown? What global economic meltdown? There's always room for another supercar to join the ranks lustworthy rides, right? At least one company in the U.K. seems to think so, and its first model, the Aspira F620, has been spotted out and about by the chaps at PistonHeads.
Power will reportedly come courtesy of GM's ubiquitous 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine, in this case bolstered with upgraded camshafts to put out 538 horsepower. That capable engine is mounted amidships and sends power out back through a six-speed Graziano gearbox. Top speed is listed at 209 miles per hour, and we're sure the run to sixty will be dispatched in no time flat.
According to PH, the Aspira is based on a kit car platform from U.S.-based Race Car Replicas. It sports a pretty slinky lookin' supercar shape to be sure, and the company hopes to move ten cars per year at £110,000 per unit. We wish them luck!
[Source: PistonHeads]
Spy Shots: Mysterious Aspira F620 supercar surfaces originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| To Chuanfu! Thanks for Everything, Warren Buffett
02.10.2009 19:29 25 views 0 comments
Filed under: China, Earnings/Financials, Celebrities 
Wang Chuanfu (above), the founder of Chinese battery manufacturer and automaker BYD is reportedly the richest man in all of China. Already a wealthy man, Bloomberg reports that Chuanfu has jumped a startling 102 places to land himself atop Hurun Rich List, an annual wealth index chronicling the country's richest people.
How did this happen? Chuanfu made nice with "The Oracle of Omaha" Warren Buffett, and the investor has paid him back - handsomely. The iconic businessman's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. took a 10% stake in BYD this year, and the stock feeding frenzy that resulted pushed Chuanfu's personal wealth from a piffling $880 million up to a get-Robin-Leach-on-the-horn $5.1 billion. Buffett himself pocketed a billion from the relationship in short order, too.
Of course, Bloomberg notes that it also helps that BYD's B3 sedan has become China's best-selling automobile this year, and presumably the demand for high-capacity rechargable batteries for everything from phones and laptops to hybrid autos isn't going anything but up.
Either way, we wouldn't be surprised to learn that Chuanfu plans on repaying Buffett's favor come holiday season by sending him the mother of all fruit baskets.
[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]
To Chuanfu! Thanks for Everything, Warren Buffett originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| VIDEO: RSD's DeLorean soap box racer consumes 1.21 gigawatts of Red Bull
02.10.2009 19:01 23 views 0 comments
Filed under: Etc., Videos, Celebrities 
Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads. Only parking lots... plus a few small jumps and a high-banked turn. Oh, and we'll also need a bit of gravity, which is all that's powering Roland Sands Design's soap box derby racer. Built in the shape of a certain famous DeLorean time machine, Sands' version eschews Mr. Fusion in favor of a giant can of Red Bull, which just so happens to be the title sponsor of the event the car was competing in.
From the looks of things, this DeLorean-shaped racer performed just about flawlessly with ex-motorcycle racer Sands at the helm. See for yourself in the video after the break. If you're interested, part one can be found here. Oh, and just wait to see what happens when this baby hits 88 miles per hour!
[Source: Roland Sands Design]
Continue reading VIDEO: RSD's DeLorean soap box racer consumes 1.21 gigawatts of Red Bull VIDEO: RSD's DeLorean soap box racer consumes 1.21 gigawatts of Red Bull originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| Mark Your Calendars: Michael Bay says Transformers 3 coming... on July 1, 2011
02.10.2009 18:29 25 views 0 comments
Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, Celebrities 
We may have found this summer's blockbuster, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen to be heavy on the sizzle and lean on the meat, but that doesn't mean we've written off the series - after all, it's hard to dismiss excellent CG work, the childhood toys of our youth... to say nothing of that siren Megan Fox.
Thankfully, director Michael Bay informs us via his official website that the next installment is already in the works, and it's been assigned a release date - July 1 of 2011. That's a long time from now, granted, but Bay intimates in his blog post that Megan Fox has already signed on for the TF3 project, and hopefully Shia LaBeouf will make the scene too. Bay is already meeting with Hasbro to discuss new characters, so we'd expect a few new transforming automobiles to show up as well.
Here's hoping that they have enough time to craft a script that lives up to the special effects.
[Source: MichaelBay.com]Mark Your Calendars: Michael Bay says Transformers 3 coming... on July 1, 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| VIDEO: Alex Roy shows Tanner Faust and Sony PSP how to really drive Laguna Seca
02.10.2009 17:56 22 views 0 comments
Filed under: Etc., Videos 
Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust's PSP-powered run around Laguna Seca didn't seem to impress the interminable Alex Roy, so he strapped a big screen TV and an Xbox into the back of a Porsche Cayenne, threw on an eerily familiar helmet and threw Rene Villeneuve behind the real wheel while Alex manned the virtual one. Check out the painful results after the jump.
Continue reading VIDEO: Alex Roy shows Tanner Faust and Sony PSP how to really drive Laguna Seca VIDEO: Alex Roy shows Tanner Faust and Sony PSP how to really drive Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
| REPORT: Toyota chief admits company is in rough shape, "grasping for salvation"
02.10.2009 17:31 25 views 0 comments
Filed under: Toyota, Earnings/Financials  Akio Toyoda appears to have brought with him the art of plain speaking to the office of company president, a position he's occupied at Toyota since June. Like most every other automaker these days, Toyota has been struggling, having seen its sales targets slip from 10 million units to a 2009 estimate of 7.3 million. But to listen to Toyoda is to understand that the company's mounting troubles can't be blamed solely on the state of the global economy, as he is using the stark language of How the Mighty Fall, a business book by author Jim Collins, to describe the company's state.
According to Automotive News, Toyoda says his company is "grasping for salvation," which is stage four of five outlined in Collins' book, with Toyota having already experienced Stage One, "Hubris Born of Success;" Stage Two, "Undisciplined Pursuit of More;" and Stage Three, "Denial of risk and peril." What's Stage Five? "Capitulation to Irrelevance or Death." Yikers.
We think Toyota is a long way from Stage Five, but with everything from a recent massive recall to currency fluctuations and eroding quality perceptions among the masses - to say nothing of mounting competition from Korean, American and European automakers - Toyoda appears to understand that his company has a lot to address in both the near- and long-term, and he's using unsubtle language in his early days in office to make sure the rest of the company knows it, too.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
REPORT: Toyota chief admits company is in rough shape, "grasping for salvation" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Read more »
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